Women's Basketball

Springfield Edges out Women's Basketball, 53-51

Dec 05, 2009

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Despite numerous
attempts by MIT to reclaim the lead in the final minute of
regulation, Springfield College held on for the 53-51 victory in a
New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference
(NEWMAC) women’s basketball game on Saturday afternoon.
Meghan Biondolillo led all scorers with 20 points and added nine
rebounds and three steals for the Pride (3-3, 2-0 NEWMAC). The
Engineers (2-5, 0-2 NEWMAC) saw three players reach double-digits
in scoring, paced by Kristen Whaley who registered 15 points to go
along with a team-high seven rebounds.

Springfield raced out to an 11-4 lead after 4:25 elapsed in the
game. MIT slowly chipped away at the deficit, coming within two
(16-14) on a layup by Whaley at the 9:47 mark. A three-pointer from
Kelly Murphy and a layup by Amelia Sapowsky returned the
seven-point margin to the Pride with 6:16 left in the half. During
the next minute the Cardinal and Gray tallied seven unanswered
points to even the frame at 21. A trey by Aparna Sud sparked the
run which was followed by a pair of free throws and a put-back from
Whaley. Springfield went on to record the final five points of the
half and entered the break with a 26-21 advantage.

The Pride maintained its small cushion early in the second stanza
until MIT tallied eight straight points to go up, 35-33, at 13:58.
Springfield responded with a 10-2 spurt to take the lead for good
with 9:36 left to play as Biondolillo drained a pair of
three-pointers and a layup during that stretch. The Engineers
quickly narrowed the gap to two (43-41) but the Pride went on a 7-2
run that was capped by another Biondolillo three-pointer with 5:18
left to play.

MIT continued to attack as it once again trailed by two (50-48)
with under two minutes remaining. A pair of free throws from Ashley
Blumenthal doubled Springfield’s margin, but a trey from Sud
on the hosts’ next trip down the court brought it within one
(52-51) with 54 seconds on the clock. The Engineers had several
opportunities to drain the go-ahead basket down the stretch but
were unable to capitalize. Murphy wrapped up the scoring by
converting one of two free-throw attempts with 4.4 seconds
left.

Sud finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and three steals while
Stephanie Cooke posted 10 points, five boards, and a block coming
off the bench. Anna Merrifield chipped in six caroms, three
assists, and a block as Lauren Sascha Burton distributed five
assists.